Use of public transport up, but so is travelling time

SINGAPORE — More people are choosing public transport to get to work although their commuting time has increased compared with five years ago.

The latest General Household Survey released yesterday showed that 58.7 per cent of the resident working population take public bus and/or MRT to work, up from 54.6 per cent in the previous such survey in 2010.

In particular, the proportion who use a combination of MRT and public bus to commute to work jumped from 17.6 per cent in 2010 to 24.8 per cent last year.

The Department of Statistics Singapore attributed the higher train ridership to the expansion of the MRT network in recent years.

In tandem with higher public transport use, just over one in five (21.9 per cent) used a car to get to work last year, compared with one in four (24.8 per cent) five years ago. More than half (52.5 per cent) of those living in landed properties relied on cars as their only mode of transport to work last year. The figure for those living in condominiums and private flats was 44.7 per cent.

Other modes of transport to work include private chartered bus or van, motorcycle or scooter, and walking or cycling.

While median commuting time by public bus has remained the same at 30 minutes, journeys involving an MRT ride take longer now — possibly because of longer travelling distances, as noted in a survey by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) between June 2012 and May 2013.

Median travelling time for those who use only the MRT went up from 40 minutes to 45 minutes. Those who use both MRT and bus on their way to work spend 60 minutes commuting, up from 50 minutes, at the median level.

In response to queries, an LTA spokesperson said it would “significantly expand the rail network and... continue to augment the bus network to make public transport more accessible” over the next few years.

For example, another 16 stations on the Downtown Line will begin operations next year, while a new rail line or extension will open almost every year from now till 2025.

About 240 buses will also be added by next year under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme, while work continues in building up a more extensive infrastructure for cycling and walking.